Wolves have had a difficult time in the transfer windows of late, with financial boundaries setting the tone.
The summer of 2023 was a particularly trialling time for the Old Gold, with a lack of financial backing and PSR pressures seeing Julen Lopetegui leave the club.
The former Wolves manager saw a host of players sold to generate funds, all of which failed to be replaced sufficiently, causing worry heading into the 2023/24 campaign.
Gary O’Neil arrived and ensured his depleted squad remained in the top flight last term however, the Englishman was met with a similar fate this summer as not every position was able to be replenished.
- READ MORE: Wolves ace admits Julen Lopetegui had him playing his ‘best’ football of his career, not Gary O’Neil
Wolves were interested in signing Joao Neves
Like every club, over the years Wolves have been linked to a mass of top talent, with several rumoured targets going on to become world beaters.
One example was 2023 target Viktor Gyokeres, whom Sky Sports reported the Old Gold were ‘leading the race’ to sign from Coventry City.
The Midlands club missed out on the striker, who has since scored 55 goals in 61 appearances for Sporting CP.
The Swedish talisman wasn’t the only star name Lopetegui’s side were linked to that summer, as reports in Portugal suggested that Wolves were admirers of Joao Neves.
A report from A Bola, relayed by Sport Witness at the time, claimed that the Premier League side were ‘interested’ in the former Benfica midfielder alongside Bayern Munich.
Neves eventually signed for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 and has since shown form that might have left Wolves wondering what could have been, had they secured his signature.
Neves is leading the charts in Europe
At just 20 years old, it’s not taken Neves any time at all to settle into his new surroundings in Paris.
The midfielder is leaving others in Europe red-faced, with no one in the Premier League, or Europe’s top five leagues at that, able to match the youngster’s numbers.
In a feature documenting the best-performing chance creators in Europe’s elite leagues, CIES showcased the brilliance of the former Wolves target.
Neves tops the charts as the top-performing chance creator in Europe, with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer falling just short of the 20-year-old.
Notable figures who are performing at a lower level than Lopetegui’s target at Molineux include Bukayo Saka, Mohammed Salah and on a global scale, Lionel Messi in the MLS.
It’s unknown whether Wolves were ever in the position to lure Neves to the West Midlands however, based on the interest during the summer of 2023, the Old Gold will be wishing they could turn back time.